Aynur (tur/krd)

Aynur visited the Etnosoi! festival for the last time 20 years ago, and at that time the artist, who was still unknown here, conquered the hearts of the Finnish audience in one fell swoop. Her career had gotten off to a strong start and the road to the international market was open, among other things, thanks to the hugely popular song Keçe Kurdan (Kurdish Girl).

A lot has happened since then. Aynur and her band are arriving in Finland with the final shows of the tour of Aynur’s eighth album ‘Rabe’, which has climbed to the top of the world music charts. Almost all the musicians on the tour were, alongside Aynur, key influences in the creation of the album. The music and lyrics come from tradition, as well as from Aynur herself and icons of Kurdish, Alevi, and Yazidi culture such as Şâh Hatâî, Pir Sultan Abdal, Evdalê Zeynikê, Mihemed Şexo, Şeroyê Biro.

Aynur's next album will be published in 2027, and we can expect to hear hear some of it already.

Aynur is one of the most iconic and influential voices of Kurdish music today. Over her 25-year career, she has reshaped the musical landscape by blending the deep-rooted traditions of Kurdish folk music with contemporary Western influences, creating a timeless and globally resonant musical language. Her extraordinary voice and emotive storytelling represent the rich cultural heritage of her roots, reinterpreted as a universal genre. With her international band, she also seeks points of contact with Western European styles.

Aynur has collaborated with world-renowned musicians and ensembles, including Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Maestro Riccardo Muti, Kayhan Kalhor, Javier Limón, Kinan Azmeh, the Nederland Blazers Ensemble, and the NDR Big Band. These
partnerships have expanded her artistic spectrum and elevated Kurdish music to a global platform. Her remarkable talent has also been featured in acclaimed films, including Fatih Akın’s Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul and Morgan Neville’s The Music of Strangers, which documents her journey with the Silk Road Ensemble.

Aynur has significantly influenced the development of contemporary Kurdish musical tradition, effectively bridging historical and modern elements while reaching audiences worldwide. Her exceptional capacity to connect individuals through music affirms her role as one of the most impactful and prominent voices in both Kurdish and international music.

On stage in Helsinki:

Aynur - lead vocal, tembûr lute
James Wylie - clarinet
Mahan Mirarab - guitar
Franz von Chossy - piano
Chris Jennings - bass
Patrick Goraguer – drums

»To hear Aynur’s voice is to hear the transformation of all the layers of human joy and suffering into one sound. It reaches so deep into our soul, tears into our hearts, and then we are for one moment, joined as one. It is unforgettable!« Yo-Yo Ma

Aynur has received worldwide recognition and many awards for her top professionism and her beautiful art. Here is one of them:
"It is for her long-term dedication to the preservation and innovation of Kurdish and Alevi culture, for maintaining the highest artistic integrity in the face of political pressure and, in doing so, for being a model for all that sing against the silencers, that Aynur Doğan is a very worthy recipient of the WOMEX 21 Artist Award."

Hekimo: https://youtu.be/lzfhP6FJK6o
Rabe Edlayê: https://youtu.be/iaAhzPIekt4
BÎRANÎN: https://youtu.be/Vm26N4xvd0c